5 key points on long-term results for total lumbar disc replacement

A new study published in Spine examines the long-term outcomes for lumbar disc replacement patients.

The study included 57 patients who underwent total disc replacement from 2003 to 2008. Each patient had at least 10 years of follow-up. Study authors found:

1. Patients reported significant improvement from the preoperative to final follow-up in the Visual Analog Scale and Dallas Pain Questionnaire. The VAS improved from 6.8 to 3.2 while the DPG improved from 63.2 to 45.6.

2. One-third of the patients underwent revision fusion after the initial total disc replacement.

3. The revision patients reported worse outcomes at the 10-year follow-up than the patients who didn't have revision procedures.

4. Around half — 52.6 percent — of the patients reported they would choose TDR again if they had the same problem.

5. Study authors concluded their work "demonstrated significant improvement in long-term clinical outcomes, similar to previously published studies, and two-thirds of the discus prostheses were still functioning at follow-up."